Connector for wrist-watch bracelets and other linkages



L. E. VALCOURT CONNECTOR FOR WRIST-WATCH BRACELETS AND OTHER LINKAGES July 15, 1947.

' Uenl'or: LbujSE. Ualcaurl W lz'orn 9 8.

Filed April 27, 1946 Patented July 15, 1947 CONNECTOR FOR WRIST-WATCH BRACE- LETS AND OTHER LINKAGES Louis E. Valcourt, East Providence, R. I., assignor to Kestenman Bros. Mfg. 00., Providence, R. 1., a corporation of Rhode Island Application April 27, 1946, Serial No. 665,526

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a connector or fastening device for attaching the ends of bracelets to wrist-watches, or connecting linkages, cords or the like to other articles and consists in improvements in the construction and method of opera tion of the same.

The present invention consists particularly in improvements in the connector or fastening device shown and described in my prior copending application for patent, Serial No. 553,899, filed September 13, 1944. One object of the present invention is to provide a connector at the end of a bracelet or other linkage adapted to engage through a loop or bail on the watch-case, or to a secondary connecting element, with means for rendering it more convenient to apply to use.

Another object is to provide a connector of the type specified comprising two associated members, one of which is permanently fastened to the end-link of a bracelet, linkage or the like, and the other constructed in the form of an open ring permanently fastened to the first member and adapted to rotate thereon to expose its opening,

with means for controlling the extent of rotation of said ring-member to locate it in position for convenient connection with the loop on the Watch or other article Another object is to provide detent means for controlling the turning movement of the ringmember to prevent looseness and unwarranted rotation thereof While making for more convenlent and easier attachment of the bracelet to the watch or other article.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the device as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

, In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a watch shown with the ends of a flexible bracelet attached thereto by means of the present improved connector;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of a watch-case and bracelet-end showin the present improved connector attached to a loop on the watch;

Fig. 3 is a similar enlarged view showing the connecting ring rotated on its axis to open it for insertion through the loop on the watch;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged sectional view on line 55 of Fi 3;

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged bottom plan view of the connector-ring; and

Fig. 7 is a View showing the connector applied to use with a watch-case of different type by the use of an-intermediary connecting element.

Wrist-watches are provided with several diiierent forms of bracelet-attaching means at the sides or ends of their cases. Mens watches have their cases usually constructed with a pair of spaced lugs at each side or end of the case with holes for receiving the spring-pressed points or tips of cross-pins held in tubular fittings connected to the ends of the bracelet. Ladies watches, however, usually have a diiferent form of attaching means such as a loop at each end of the watch-case with which a link or ring on the end of the braclet is engaged. The present improved connector is adapted for use with either type of attaching means on a watch case, that is, it may be engaged with a loop on a ladys watch or, in other cases, hooked through a, secondary or auxiliary element carrying a cross-pin with spring points engageable in the holes in the spaced lugs on the watch-case.

In general, the present improved connector is similar to that disclosed in my prior application for patent referred to above as comprising a main member 2 adapted for permanent connection to the end-link of a chain or bracelet or to a looped cord, and an open ring-shaped member 3 which is rotatable on the member 2 for engaging it through a loop I on the watch W, or a secondary element attached thereto, with means for fixedly anchoring the ring to the main member after it has been turned to close its opening.

The main member 2 may be of any ornamental contour or outline, being herein shown as poly sided in outline and relatively flat on its face or embossed for ornamentation. The rearward portion of the member 2 is provided with suitable means for attaching it to, or it may be made as a part of, the end-link 4 of the bracelet 5 and at its forward end are two bendable tabs 6 and 1 which, when engaged around portions of the ringmember 3, are inclined to each other in parallel relation to the edges of the main member 2. By

this construction the two tabs 6 and 1 are arranged radially of the axis of the ring-member 3 as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. Preferably, the two tabs 6 and 1 are connected by an arcuate flange 8 for engaging against the inner circumference of the ring-member 3 to more securely hold it in connection with the member 2 when the two parts of the device are assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The ring-member 3 is preferably of circular shape, or it may have a generally circular or arcuate portion with an opening 3 in its circumference and a pair of fingers l3 projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof. The ring-member 3 may be of cylindrical form in cross-section or, preferably, it may be formed with two fiat sides I l and I2, see Figs. 4 and 5, joined by a rounded portion l3 which constitutes the greater part of its exposed face when it is attached to the member 2. When connected to the end of the bracelet and t the watch the ring-member 3 underlies the bottom of the main member 2 with its 'fiat side l2 in contact therewith and its interior abuttin the arcuate or circular flange 8 thereof. In this relationship of the parts the tabs 6 and 1 are bent around opposite portions of the ring 3 with their edges engaging the outer edges of the arms 10, see ,Fig. 2. The ring-member 3 is thus held securely in connection with the main memher 2 and clamped against the circular flange 8 thereof by the bent tabs 6 and I, being prevented from turning or rotating about its axis by the engagement of the edges of the tabs with the projecting fingers l0. As so far described the present improved device is similar in general to that disclosed in my prior application [for patent referred to above.

As explained in my prior application the present improved connector or fastening device is usually sold with the ring-member 3 assembled on the main member 2 to prevent its release and accidental disconnection therefrom; but to provide for convenient attachment of the bracelet to the watch or other article one of the tabs, for

example the tab 6, is left unbent or free from' engagement clear around the ring, see Fig. 4, to permit rotation of the ring to open it for insertion through the loop I on the watch W. In practice it has been found that when the parts of the connector are shipped and handled in such assembled relationship the ring-member 3 is free to turn or rotate on its axis to an extent of substantially 295 degrees. With this freedom of turning movement of the ring-member 3 it is inconvenient to hook it through the loop I on the watch W or other article since the opening 9 in the ring must bear a certain relationto the loop as indicated in Fig. 3 of the present drawings. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means for limiting the rotative movement of the ring 3 so that it can be turned only to such an extent as to bring its opening into position opposite the side of the loop I on the watch W or normal to the median line of the bracelet. For this purpose the ring-member 3 may be formed or indented with an arcuate groove I4 extending from a point adjacent one of the fingers l0 throughout substantially ninety degrees and to provide a detent-projection [ion the member 2 slidable in the'groove l4 and adapted to engage the end thereof to limit the rotary motion of the ring. Conveniently, the detentprojection l may be in the form of a narrow lug bent down from the side of the tab 1 on the member 2 shown most clearly in Fig. 5.-

When a bracelet with the present improved connector or fastening device is sold to the retailer or other dealer the ring-member 3 is permanently attached to the main member 2 at the end of the bracelet with the tab 1 bent around the ring in close association with its peripheral contour and the lug I5 projecting into the groove I4, see Fig. 5. The tab 6, on the other hand, is only partly bent around the ring 3 as shown in Fig. 4 so that it will permit turning the ring to a position substantially as shown in Fig. 3 or, in other words. with an angular motion of substantially ninety degrees. At this point in the rotative movement of the ring-member 3 the lug 15 will bring up against the end of the groove M to locate the ring in position for easy and convenient manipulation in hooking it through the loop I on the watch W or other article.

After the ring-member '3 has been hooked through the loop l on the watch W it may be rotated in the opposite direction until one of the fingers it brings up against the edge of the tab '1 as the lug i 5 slides freely in the groove [4. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 it is only necessary to bend the tab 6 down around the ring 3 with its edge abutting the side of the opposite finger Ill to secure the ring-memher in fixed relation to the main member 2 and the end of the bracelet. After this simple bending operation, which may be performed by unskilled persons such as the dealer or clerk in the retail establishment, the two parts of the device are held fixedly in connection to insure against unwarranted or accidental release of the bracelet from the watch. Moreover, since the ringmember 3 is held securely in connection with the member 2 when the bracelet is shipped and oifered for sale there is little chance of the ringmember being misplaced or lost, which frequently occurs when parts of previously used connecting devices are attached to the bracelet in such manner as to be loose and shackly and liable to displacement in shipping or handling. The present form of construction of the main member 2 and the rotary connecting ring 3 also provides considerable improvement over the device shown in my prior application for patent and involves an ingenious concept.

While the present improved device is herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and structure of the detent-means for the connecting ring without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect,.I claim:

1. A connector for attaching bracelets, linkages, cords and the like to wrist-watches having relatively narrow loops at their sides comprising a main member for permanent connection with the end of a bracelet, an open ring-shaped member connected to said main member by means on the latter surrounding portions of the ring, said ring-member having fingers projecting at the sides of its opening for engagement with the connecting means on the main member to prevent the ring from rotating about its axis while permitting rotation thereof when one of the connecting means is free from engagement with the ring. and detent-means operative beto locate its opening in convenient position for insertion through the loop on the watch-case.

2. A connector or fastening device for wristwatch bracelets and the like comprising a main member permanently fastened to the end of the bracelet, a ring-member having an opening in it circumference with fingers projecting outwardly from the sides thereof, said main member having tabs surrounding portions of the ringmember to connect it therewith, the release of one of the tabs permitting the ring-member to rotate about its axis with respect to the main member, and a detent projection on one of the members engaging in a groove on the opposite member to limit the rotative movement of the ring-member whereby to locate its opening in convenient position for inserting the ring-memher through loop on a, watch.

3. In a device of the type indicated, a main member adapted for attachment to the end of a bracelet, an open ring-member having fingers projecting outwardly at the sides of its opening, said main member formed with tabs surrounding portions of the ring-member in engage- 6 ment with the edges of its fingers to normally prevent rotation of the ring-member when its opening is closed by the main member, and a lug on the main member engaging in a groove in the ring-member to limit its rotative movement to substantially ninety degrees when one of the tabs on the main member is released to allow such rotation of the ring-member.

LOUIS E. VALCOURT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 462,465 Berry Nov. 3, 1891 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 83,420 Germany Oct. 10, 1895 

